55th “Battle of the Brothers” ushers in the Big Matches
Isipathana cricket squad
The big match fever for 2018 will usher with traditional rivals Thurstan and Isipathana clashing in their two day 55th “Battle of The Brothers” encounter due to be played on February 23 and 24 at the SSC ground starting from 9.30 a.m. on each day.
Thurstan leads the series with five wins as against four to Isipathana with the rest ending in draws and no outright results has been recorded by either side since 1999 which was won by the Isipathanians when the side was led by Krishantha Jayawardena.
For Thurstan too an outright win is badly in need with their last win being in 1992 under Mackenzie Perera and no doubt they will put in all effort to break the 25 year winless hoodoo while both the teams will go all out to put their best foot forward to break the 17 year old hoodoo.
Thurstan who are the organisers this time has with the consent with officials of Isipathana have decided to make a change as for the first time the encounter will be of 60 overs duration in the first inning. This is being introduced with the intention of aiming to produce a positive result.
Thurstan led by fourth year coloursman Nipun Lakshan have played 14 matches securing three outright wins against Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha, St Thomas’ Matara and Mahanama Colombo.
Skipper Lakshan is the only centurion of the side who has scored over 350 runs. Thurstan’s batting will revolve in Sawan Prabash their top scorer who has scored over 600 runs inclusive of seven half tons and he along with Yeshan Wickramarachchi (475), Pansilu Deshan, Nimesh Perera and Imesh Viranga will have to useful contributions.
The Thurstan bowling will revolve around Sandaru Dias the leading wicket taker of the side who has a big responsibility on his shoulders. Sandaru will be looking forward for support from skipper Lakshan, Ayesh Harshana, Janushka Fernando and Sawan to curtail the opponents to a low score.
Isipathana spearheaded by fourth year coloursman Ayana Siriwardena has had a lean season having played 12 matches and being able to chalk up only one outright win against President’s Kotte but have undergone three outright defeats to St Aloysius Galle, Maris Stella and St Anthony’s Wattala.
Skipper Ayana and last year captain Sanjula Abeywickrama has been the backbone of Isipathana’s batting this season as they are the two centurions of the side and much will be expected from this duo to bolster the score and lay the foundation for the others to gain confidence.
The duo with Shamilka Wickramatilleke, Ashen Gunawardena and Leshan Amarasinghe the other three recognised batsmen will be expected to chip in with their useful contributions.
Isipathana’s bowling has been in the hands of spinners spearheaded by deputy skipper Sanjula Bandara who is their leading wicket taker and he along with Madushika Sandaruwan, skipper Ayana and Lahiru Dilshan an experience player who has unable make any impression this season will be the mainstay in their bowling department.
Thurstan cricket squad
However looking back at the performances of the two teams this season it looks that the unbeaten Thurstan side has the edge, but this being a match that is something special for the two teams it could be anybody’s game due to the fact that the underdogs have done better in a match of this nature.
But the need of the hour is to break the hoodoo and the two teams know that a win is needed for which positive cricket should be played if they are to achieve that.
The two sides share the records of the big match with Isipathana’s debutant Saman Nishantha holding the best individual score of 150 n.o. made in 2002 and the best bowling figures is by Thurstan’s Jayajeewa Karunaratne who took 7 for 28 in 1992 in their last win. The highest score of the series is 331 for 9 declared made by Thurstan in 2012 and the lowest of 56 by Isipathana way back in 1968.